Electronic Artist ROB ASTOR Releases BEYOND MARSTROPOLIS, A Follow Up Look At A Bright Future Of Space Exploration & Colonization Through Music

Jackson, Michigan – November 4, 2007 – Fusion is the word of the day when talking about Rob Astor’s newest double CD, BEYOND MARSTROPOLIS. Successfully, he blends New Age, Dance, Power Pop, Jazz, World, and Rock & Roll, creating an album that is not just a continuation of MARSTROPOLIS, but also surpasses it in every possible way. Rob says, “It’s more than just Marstropolis Part II.”

BEYOND MARSTROPOLIS picks up where its predecessor left off, then moves with warp speed into unexplored territory. As with the former, BEYOND MARSTROPOLIS was inspired by video games and the musical soundtracks accompanying them. As you would expect from Rob Astor, he steers clear of the norm, driving full force into the future of instrumental music. His best works have a mainstream sound and feel.

Listing the combined influences packed into BEYOND MARSTROPOLIS is no easy task. There’s a wide variety of styles, much more so than on any of Rob Astor’s previous albums. From New Age, Meditation, Acoustic Guitar, and even Rock & Roll, look for shades of Tangerine Dream, Heart, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin. Alternative Rock at it’s very best also lends a hand in shaping some of the faster tracks. The musical shades of Biosphere blend seamlessly with the European Club Scene. Smoking Jazz and World Fusion take center stage in spots where the Saxophone is present. Dance makes the perfect partner to 1980s Power Pop. Even John Williams echoes through a combination of Spencer Nilsen, James Horner, and Norm Orenstein, masterfully crafted and mixed to become the sound of Rob Astor.

BEYOND MARSTROPOLIS is packed with 28 tracks, two co-written by Rob’s musical friend and partner Harry Grillo of The Lovesick (“1.21 Jiggowatts [Remix]”, “Dream Of The Amber Guitar”) who also created the very Journey-like cover graphic of the album. “I really wanted to collaborate with Harry on this album and see what we could put together with music. He’s got a lot of vibes going on inside and it’s time the world knew what he can do!”

Two and half hours of escape awaits the listener. Thoughtful and reflective, BEYOND MARSTROPOLIS has what Rob calls “bookend tracks”, a connecting New Age thread to MARSTROPOLIS. “The first and last title (‘Red Awakening’ and ‘A Dream For The Sake Of Dreaming’ respectively) were constructed and played in the same way as ‘Trappings Of Time’.” Everything else in between follows its own set of rules.

Playing on the sound of Acoustic Guitars from the 1970s, “Project Delphinus” goes on to weave New Age flavor through its structure. “Flight In Ursa Minor” is simply an Acoustic dream to behold. “Scorpio Inversion” begins with a chiming Acoustic intro reminiscent of early Heart before turning into a mid-tempo rocker. “Dream Of The Amber Guitar” flows in that same kind of direction, turning back on itself following a rock solo. “Endor-9 Aviary” combines Acoustic Guitar to a tribal beat and grinding Bass.

For listeners expecting Power Pop, look for connections to fictional superstar Janet Jetson (a track from MARSTROPOLIS) through the anathematic groove of “Rikku” and the pounding overlays of “Monkey Down”, paying tribute to Janet Jackson’s late 1980s and early 1990s body of work. “Janet is one of my favorite characters. She’s almost the whole backbone of this musical place I’ve created on both albums.”

“BEYOND MARSTROPOLIS has a lot more Rock & Roll on it than MARSTROPOLIS,” Rob says. “There were a lot of things I wanted to explore, including how to create even more hip shaking, head bobbing, fist pumping tracks.”

Most of the second CD is filled with just such compositions. Driving Electric Guitar placed against a Dance Beat forms the backbone of “Monkey Down”, moving with the speed of a jungle hunt chase. The big Drums of Led Zeppelin combine with the dreamy Guitar of Pink Floyd to come up with the pounding “Raion Kapella”. “Get Vertical!” takes the best of Dance, Club Music, and Rock & Roll to bring it into soaring action. And if you’re ready to really rock, take on the wild buzz of “Skyboarding”, the convulsive “Reka Persei”, and total spastic jam of “Chocotopia”.

Never fear, BEYOND MARSTROPOLIS also includes a good sampling of video game music. Sit back, relax, and watch the world go by in fast forward while listening to “East Kinsei Kaigan”. Sample some World Fusion in “Aphrodite’s Belly Dance”, “Neon City”, and “Quadrahedron Matrix”. And, if you want drug induced, Rob has that, too! “I started working on ‘Candy Hearts Moon Kid’ right after having my appendix out while I was still on Vicodin.”

Whatever your pleasure may be, BEYOND MARSTROPOLIS has them all. Be sure to pick up your copy of Rob Astor’s latest masterpiece!

Rob Astor’s new CD, BEYOND MARSTROPOLIS, is now available at CDBaby.com, Apple’s iTunes, MyRealTalent.com, Electronic.MyRealTalent.com, and Mood.MyRealTalent.com.

Visit Rob on the Internet at:

http://www.myspace.com/soloartistrobastor

BEYOND MARSTROPOLIS Track List

— CD 1 —
Red Awakening
Scorpio Inversion
694 Beta Central
Tau Kinematic
Glyph Obelisk
Aphrodite’s Belly Dance
Halcyon Dreams
East Kinsei Kaigan
Neon City
Candy Hearts Moon Kid
1.21 Jiggowatts (Remix)
Radial Cybernet 3 (Remix)
Wet Socks Dance
Project Delphinus
Ocean Of Red

— CD 2 —
Monkey Down
Rikku
Endor-9 Aviary
Flight In Ursa Minor
Quadrahedron Matrix
Dream Of The Amber Guitar
Sagittarius Proxima
Chocotopia
Reka Persei
Skyboarding
Raion Kapella
Get Vertical!
A Dream For The Sake Of Dreaming